Print and Cut Gift Idea

I want to share my idea for a gift for my partner, that I made using the 'print and cut' feature of my Silhouette Cameo.

He likes books. Specifically, he likes books on politics and current affairs, so it is best to buy them when they are newly published. I looked at subscription services but I thought he might inadvertently end up receiving a cookery book, which would not please him! So instead, I've made book tokens dated one a month for the next three months. Every month he writes the name of the latest book he wants on the voucher, gives it back to me, and I will order him the book.

I made the vouchers in Silhouette Studio by tracing a shape, adding patterns from a digital version of Echo Park Sweet Day, adding the text and cutting them on the Silhouette electronic cutting machine.

I'd like to enter:
That Craft Place  no cards
Craft Your Passion  anything goes
Moving Along with the Times  Let's get reading

Make My Monday - Vintage

Our theme this week at Make My Monday is 'Vintage'.

For my DT card I used a stamp by Paper Artsy and a sentiment diecut by MME. I added ribbon, a wooden snowflake and red glitter.

Although I've made a Christmas card, you can make any kind of project, as long as it has a touch of vintage to it.

I'd like to enter:
Fantasy Stampers  distress it
Christmas Card Challenges anything goes
Pink Elephant  anything goes

CD Sunday - Purple Crazy

CD Sunday  are having a special challenge in rememberance of Wendy aka Purple Crazy.  I think this is a lovely idea and, as I've been entering CD Sunday challenges for several years now, am happy to join in.

The teddy holding the present is from Docrafts Wellington CD and I added another present, the balloons, star and party hat, all from a Forever Friends CD. I popped up the balloon and party hat on foam and added a die-cut frame, sentiment, flowers and gems.

As well as CD Sunday, I'd like to enter ABC Challenge , H is for Happy Birthday.

Inkspirational #81 - Space

Do you know what this is? If you are British, you will almost certainly know that it's a dalek from the Sci-Fi TV show, Dr Who, which has been running for (on and off) over 50 years. I'm not sure how many of my international blog visitors will recognise it though (I do believe it's shown in the US).

This is my DT card for the latest challenge at Inkspirational , which is the word prompt 'space'. You can see I used two meanings - outer space and empty space on the design.

I found a dalek picture on the internet and digitally traced it in Silhouette Studio and cut it on my Silhouette electronic die cutter. Then I trimmed it so the dalek was coming in from off the page and backed it onto silver mirror card.

I had to photograph it from a funny angle to prevent my image appearing in the dalek - spooky!

I hope you will visit us at Inkspirational, see our DT creations and also our fabulous Guest Designer Sue T  - and link up your own creation inspired by the word 'space'.

I'd like to enter:
QKR Stampede guy cards
Cute Card Thursday  clean and simple
Crafty Cardmakers dots
That's Crafty  keep it simple

One Layer Tree

Well I enjoyed joining in with One Layer Christmas Card Challenges last week, so I thought I'd also have a go at their new theme 'trees' - especially as that is also the theme at Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge .

I used a very old tree stamp by Denami, a sentiments set by Mama Elephant, and a book-page stamp by Sarah Hurley. I also use Distress spray.

I'd also like to link up with Moving Along with the Times  (stamped book-page).

Empty Box Project #17- Singing Frog

This is the 11th birthday card I've made for my partner and, after 11 years, I'm still trying to come up with ideas that are relevant yet fresh!

We have a pond at the bottom of the garden and, at night, my partner loves to go down there with a torch to watch all the frog action.

I've had this Penny Black frog stamp for a few years but never used it. It was second- hand, I think, and I got it because I have another Penny Black frog stamp and I thought I'd use them together. But, obviously, I didn't, and I just pulled this one out of my empty-box-project box.

Just to recap:

On New Year's day I revealed my stamping shame - a big box of unused stamps - and started my Empty Box project. My aim is to work through the box , one stamp/ stamp set at a time and see if I can use them. If I can't use them, I will dispose of them. The aim is to finish with an empty box.

I'd like to enter: 

Penny Black at Allsorts  birthday 

Crafting When we Can  sing me a song (happy birthday) 

Cuttin and Stampin  cute critter

Come and Get it starts with b - bunting, birthday and (speech) bubble 

Sentimental Sundays  animal love 

Creative Cutting Challenge - Spring

We have a 'spring' challenge at Creative Cutting Challenge this time.

I used the snail from 'Garden Friends 2' svg set from The Creative Pointe  and I cut it on the Silhouete Cameo. The papers I used are from Designs by Dani 'Woodland Spring'.

To join in our challenge, all you need to do is create a 'spring' project using an svg (electronic) cutting file. Hope to see your project.

I'd like to enter:
Suzy Bees Bloomin Challenge die
The Stamping Boutique  spring
Cuttin and Stampin cute critters
Crafty Cardmakers dots

Make My Monday - Earth Day

This week, at Make My Monday  we're celebrating Earth Day, which is on April 22nd.

I made a layout using a photo taken recently at London Wetland Centre, which is all about conservation and preserving a natural habitat for wildlife. Here is my son making like a bat, in front of the architect-designed bat house.

I made the tree frame by adapting an SVG cutting file and cutting it on my Silhouette electronic cutting machine. The background paper, tag and letter stickers are Basic Grey (different ranges) and I added a charm, buttons and wooden leaf from my stash.

I hope to see you at Make My Monday. 

I'd like to enter:
Give a Crafter a Cookie  earth day
Simply Create Too no digis or stamped images
Freaking Scrappy   old stash (especially the embellishments!)
Cute Card Thursday  charmed
Use your Stuff  anything goes

Quick Shower

Here's a quick and easy card because I was playing with inks and because I love umbrella images.  I used a Stampin Up set called Million Dollar Moments.

I'd like to enter:
Time Out you can't make a rainbow without a little rain
My Time to Craft umbrellas
Allsorts quick and easy

Snowman with a Sign

Last year I set myself (and achieved!) a challenge of making and uploading a Christmas card every week. I haven't done that again this year, but I have still been making Christmas cards since January . I think what I learnt from last year was to get into the habit of making Christmas cards all year through and not to keep Christmas themed papers, stamps and digis separate - jumble them up with all the other stuff so you can come across them by chance and be inspired.

This card uses a digi stamp from Bugaboo and I added the text to it, coloured it with Promarkers and added a 'wink of stella' glitter (can't see in photo).

The other thing, of course, that keeps me making Christmas cards are the Christmas challenges , which I love to combine with general challenges and today I'd like to enter:
The Glory of Christmas use a digi
ABC Christmas Challenge  happy christmas
Crafty Creations seeing spots
Creative Card Crew sentiment